How many of you have ever thought it would be cool to have a cup of your favorite tea with Jesus? Sure, I'm sure many of you pray while sipping your tea or coffee in the morning or mid-afternoon. But I never imagined what it would be like to sit in the first pew of the church in front of the blessed sacrament sipping a cup of green mint tea until last evening. After having this thought, I was moved to execute the vision! Literally!
Dominic and I are so blessed to be staying in a small seminarian's apartment attached to the Catholic Church in Nizhniy Novgorod...I think it is called the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary because the feast day is August 15 according to the dear, dear priest, Father Mario who is a native of Argentina. Dominc said that Father Mario reminds him of his friend, Ivan, only about 40 years fast forward.
Not only do we have our own private bathroom and bedroom with bunkbeds and a pull out sofa-chair, but we also have access to a full kitchen in the upstairs of the church. The church was originally the stable for the parish many, many years ago but then the Communist government came in and took over the property, closing the church. In the last 20 years, the old Church remains a dark gray building owned by ?? and the new church is the former stable. It has been completely remodeled of course. The center of the church has a spiral staircase that leads to the second floor. On the left of the staircase at the top is the kitchen and adjoining large conference like room. To the right of the staircase is a door that leads to the apartment where the two sisters live. i think they are Sisters of Christian Charity from Poland. They do not speak Engligh. There is also a third floor to the church. It is another apartment where there is a friend of Father Mario's staying for awhile. He does speak English, but we haven't seen him since we were introduced on Sunday evening.
All in all, this is a remarkable opportunity for Dominic and me. Why? There is no other Catholic Church in this city of 1.5 million people and not only did God lead us to find it on my first leg of the journey with Kenny, but he invited us to stay here on the last. So, we are able to come and go as we please, but we are connected to our faith very heavily...literally!
Last night, after thinking about having a cup of tea with Jesus, I went to the kitchen, poured the hot water, and descended the stairs. I lit a candle for Kenny's mom who was having major surgery and sat in the front pew. The church was nearly dark at 8:45pm with only two candles burning and the dim light from the day fading through the three stained glass windows at the alter. The church was locked up tight for the night and there I was...just Jesus ...I ...and my cup of chai! (dom helped to craft the last sentence)
Dominic and I are so blessed to be staying in a small seminarian's apartment attached to the Catholic Church in Nizhniy Novgorod...I think it is called the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary because the feast day is August 15 according to the dear, dear priest, Father Mario who is a native of Argentina. Dominc said that Father Mario reminds him of his friend, Ivan, only about 40 years fast forward.
Not only do we have our own private bathroom and bedroom with bunkbeds and a pull out sofa-chair, but we also have access to a full kitchen in the upstairs of the church. The church was originally the stable for the parish many, many years ago but then the Communist government came in and took over the property, closing the church. In the last 20 years, the old Church remains a dark gray building owned by ?? and the new church is the former stable. It has been completely remodeled of course. The center of the church has a spiral staircase that leads to the second floor. On the left of the staircase at the top is the kitchen and adjoining large conference like room. To the right of the staircase is a door that leads to the apartment where the two sisters live. i think they are Sisters of Christian Charity from Poland. They do not speak Engligh. There is also a third floor to the church. It is another apartment where there is a friend of Father Mario's staying for awhile. He does speak English, but we haven't seen him since we were introduced on Sunday evening.
All in all, this is a remarkable opportunity for Dominic and me. Why? There is no other Catholic Church in this city of 1.5 million people and not only did God lead us to find it on my first leg of the journey with Kenny, but he invited us to stay here on the last. So, we are able to come and go as we please, but we are connected to our faith very heavily...literally!
Last night, after thinking about having a cup of tea with Jesus, I went to the kitchen, poured the hot water, and descended the stairs. I lit a candle for Kenny's mom who was having major surgery and sat in the front pew. The church was nearly dark at 8:45pm with only two candles burning and the dim light from the day fading through the three stained glass windows at the alter. The church was locked up tight for the night and there I was...just Jesus ...I ...and my cup of chai! (dom helped to craft the last sentence)
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